Tongue-switch.



G. A. ALDEN.

, TONGUE SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAE.18. 190a.

Patented Sept. 5,1910.

mmnan m ifwba, a 44% Wm Q CHARLES A. ALDEN, OF STEELTON, PENN$YLVANIA.

TONGUE-SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 6, 1910.

Application filed March 18, 1908. Serial No. 421,957.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHAnLns A. ALDEN, a citizen of the United States,and resident of Steelton, Dauphin county, State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Tongue-Switches, ofwhich the following is a full, clear, and exact description, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings.

The object of my invention is to provide, in a tongue switch forrailways, a simple and efficient construction and organization of partshaving provision whereby the switch tongue may be effectually held inworking position and whereby the kicking or accidental throwing of theswitch tongue may be obviated.

To this end the invention consists in the novel construction andcombinations of erally into the cavity 11, the bottom of the sector 12being flush with the bottom of the switch tongue, and said tongue andsector resting upon the bottom of the groove 5. The sector 12 being apart of the tongue 6 and resting upon the bottom of the groove 5 of thebase 1 rearwardly of the heel end of the tongue 6 aifords an amplesupport for the heel end of the tongue.

The concave socket 7 in the heel end of the switch tongue 6 is held inengagement with the convex portion 8 by bearing blocks 13, arrangedwithin the cavity 11 and removably secured therein by suitable screws17. The blocks engage the outer curved face of the sector 12, and thesector 12 and therewith the tongue 6 is held down upon the base of thegroove 5 and also the base of the cavity 11 by portions 14 of the blocksparts which will be hereinafter fully de- 13 which extend over and intoengagement scribed and claimed. with the top of the sector 12. Thesector 12 In the drawings :Figure l is a plan view and switch tongue 6are further held down of a tongue switch embodying my invenupon thebottom of the groove 5-by the ention, and adjuncts. Fig. 2 is a planview gaglng faces of the socket 7 and part 8 beenlarged of the heel endof the switch ing inclined or beveled, as shown.

tongue, and certain adjuncts. Fig. 3 is a The cavity 11 and the partstherein convertical section, as on the line wm of Fig.

. 2, including the cover plate.

1 designates the base of the switch section of a railway, said sectionbeing joined, at one of its ends, to a rail 2, and at the other of itsends to the two diverging rails, 3 and 4, in the usual well knownmanner. Formed in the base 1 is the groove 5 connecting the rails 3 and4 with the rail 2, and in which is arranged the switch tongue 6, whichis adapted to be moved from side to side on a pivotal connection of itsheel end with the base in the usual manner, to direct the car wheels tothe rails 2 and 3 or to the rails 2 and 4.

The heel end of the switch tongue 6 is provided with a concave socket 7which is fitted to a convex portion 8 on a member or tread portion 9rising from the base of the tained are covered by which is secured tothe tension 10 of the base a suitable plate 15, top of the lateral exbyscrews or bolts 16.

The convex portion 8 of the part 9, tlie concave socket 7 and the sector12, are all struck from a common center, as shown. Thus it will be seenthat with their co-acting parts they form a pivotal connection of theheel end of the switch tongue 6 with the base 1, upon which the switchtongue 6 may be moved in the usual manner.

By removing the screws 16 and 17, the cover plate 15 and bearing blocks13 may be readily removed from the structure, thus permitting the readyremoval of the switch tongue 6 for repairs and other purposes.

By the construction herein described, it will be seen that the switchtongue 6 is effectually held in working position and that all liabilityof the kicking or accidental throwing of the switch tongue 6 as a carwheel passes to or from the heel end of the tongue, is obviated, for thereason that there is no part of the switch tongue that the car wheelsact upon which projects from the heel end of the switch tongue 6 to orbeyond the pivot point of the pivotal connection of said tongue withsaid base.

' Having thus described my invention, I

groove 5, and forming, in eifect, a continuation of the heel end of theswitch tongue leading to the rails 3 and 4.

The base 1 is provided with a lateral extension 10, in which is formed acavity 11, extending from the groove 5, the bottom of the cavity 11forming a continuation of the bottom of the cavity 5. The lower portionof the heel end of the switch tongue 6 is provided with a sector 12,which extends latclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a tongue switch, the combination of the base, a switch tongue, atread portion adjacent the heel end of the switch tongue and having a.pivotal engagement therewith including a concave socket on one part anda convex portion on the other part arranged within the concave socket, asector pro ecting trom the heel end ot the Y switch tongue, and meansacting upon said sector and holding said concave socket and convexportion in engagen'ient with each other, substantially as described.

In a tongue switch, the combination of the base, a switch tongue theheel end of which is provided with a concave socket, a tread portionhaving a convex portion arranged within said socket, a sector projectingfrom the heel end of the switch tongue, and means acting upon saidsector and holding said concave socket in engagement with said convexportion, substantially as described.

3. In a tongue switch, the combination of the base, a switch tongue, atread portion adjacentthe heel end of the switch tongue and having apivotal engagement therewith including a concave socket on one part anda convex portion on the other part arranged within the concave socket, asector projecting from the heel end of the switch tongue, and a bearingblock secured to said base and engaging two faces of said sector to holdit in position and hold said concave socket and convex portion inengagement with each other, substantially as described.

4. In a tongue switch, the combination of the base having the switchtongue groove therein and a lateral cavity extending from said groove, aswitch tongue within said groove, a tread portion adjacent the heel endof the switch tongue and having pivotal engagement therewith including aconcave socket on one part and a convex portion on the other partarranged within the concave socket, a sector projecting laterally fromthe heel end of the switch tongue and into said cavity, and means withinsaid cavity acting upon said sector and holding said concave socket andconvex portion in engagement with each other, substantially asdescribed.

5. In a tongue switch, the combination of the base having the switchtongue groove therein and a lateral cavity extending from said groove, aswitch tongue within said. groove, a tread portion adjacent the heel endof the switch tongue and having pivotal engagement therewith including aconcave socket on one part and a convex portion on the other partarranged within the concave socket, a sector projecting laterally fromthe heel end of the switch tongue and into said cavity, means withinsaid cavity acting upon said sector and holding said concave socket andconvex portion in engagement with each other, and a removable platecovering said cavity, substantially as de scribed.

(3. In a tongue switch, the combination of the base having the switchtongue groove therein and a cavity extending laterally from said groove,the tloor of said groove and the tloor of said cavity being on the samehorizontal plane, a switch tongue within said groove, a tread portionadjacent the heel end of the switch tongue and having a pivotalengagement therewith including a concave socket on one part and a convexportion on the other part arranged within the concave socket, the heelend of the switch tongue being provided with a lateral extensionextending into said cavity and resting on the floor thereof and having aconvex taco, and abearing member within said cavity and engaging saidconvex face and holding said concave socket and convex portion inengagement with each other, substantially as described.

7. In a tongue switch, the combination of the base, the switch tonguethe heel end of which is provided with a concave socket struck fromcenter on a line the extension of one edge oi the switch tongue, and abearing member arranged within said socket and means for retaining saidsocket in engagement with said bearing member, substantially asdescribed.

8. In a tongue switch, the combination of the base, a switch tongue theheel end of which is provided with a concave socket struck from a centeron one side of and away from a line the extension of the longitudinalaxis of the heel end of said tongue, the heel end of said tongue beingprovided with a convex part extending laterally therefrom on the otherside of said line, a bearing member arranged within said socket, andmeans acting against said convex part and retaining said socket inengagement with said bearing member, substantially as described.

9. In a switch tongue, the combination of the base, a switch tongue, atread portion adjacent the heel end of the switch tongue and having apivotal engagement therewith, and a part formed on and projecting fromthe switch tongue and having a bearing upon said base laterally of saidtread portion and rearwardly of the heel end of the switch tongue,substantially as described.

10. In a switch tongue, the combination of the base, aswitch tongue, atread portion adjacent the heel end of the switch tongue and having apivotal engagement therewith, a part formed on and projecting from theswitch tongue and having a bearing upon said base laterally of saidtread portion and rearwardly of the heel end of the switch tongue, andmeans for holding said part down upon said base, substantially asdescribed.

ll. In a switch tongue, the combination of the base, a switch tongue, atread portion adjacent the heel end of the switch tongue and having apivotal engagement therewith including a concave socket on one partand aconvex portion on the other part arranged within said socket, a sectorformed on and projecting from the switch tongue and having a bearingupon said base laterally of said tread portion and rearwardly of theheel end of the switch tongue, and means acting upon said sector andholding said concave socket and convex portion in engagement with eachother, substantially as described.

12. In a switch tongue, the combination of the base, a switch tongue, atread portion adjacent the heel end of the switch tongue and having apivotal engagement therewith including a concave socket on one part anda convex portion on the other part arranged within said socket, a sectorformed on and projecting from the switch tongue and having a bearingupon said base laterally of said tread portion and rearwardly of theheel end of the switch tongue, and means acting upon said sector andholding it down upon said base and holding said concave socket andconvex portion in engagement with each other, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto afiixed my signature.

CHARLES A. ALDEV.

lVitnesses B. L. WEAVER, VVM. R. MILLER.

